New non-profit, Keith Relief, aims to alleviate financial and emotional burdens of families and individuals suffering from medical crisis

Chicago, IL – Duncan Keith, Defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks, and his wife Kelly-Rae have launched a new charity, Keith Relief, dedicated to alleviating the financial and emotional burdens of families and individuals suffering from medical crisis in the Chicagoland area.

“I am very pleased to announce the start of my new charity Keith Relief,” said Duncan Keith. “The ability to afford proper medical care is very important to me, and being able to assist others who are not as fortunate is something I hope to provide to as many people as possible in Chicago.”

The Keith’s motivation behind this charity was an extremely costly medical bill from Kelly-Rae’s knee surgery, which amounted to be significantly higher in the US compared to the publically funded healthcare system in Canada. After learning about the number of families living without health insurance or significant resources, the Canadian couple made it a personal mission to assist those suffering from unplanned medical crises.

“Duncan and I are dedicated to helping those who don’t have access to proper health care. When we learned about the increasing amount of bankruptcies and home foreclosures resulting from high medical expenses and lack of health insurance, we wanted to find a way to make things better for Chicago families in need,” said Kelly-Rae Keith.

Keith Relief has partnered with Project HUGS (Helping Uninsured Get Surgery), a no cost surgery program serving individuals who are seeking costly yet necessary procedures, but are uninsured, and Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of children in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Proceeds raised through Keith Relief within the first year’s fundraising efforts will benefit Project HUGS and Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana.

The charity will host a red carpet event on Wednesday, October 26th at The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel. Selected as the fourth quarter beneficiary of the Blackstone Chicago Hotel’s “Dollar for Dreams” program, the partnership will kick off with an intimate fund raiser with Chicago’s most notable sports media personalities, members of the Blackhawk team, team sponsors and VIP guests.

ABOUT KEITH RELIEF

Founded in 2011 by Duncan Keith and his wife, Kelly-Rae, Keith relief is a charitable organization dedicated to alleviating the financial and emotional burdens of families and individuals suffering from medical crisis. Keith Relief benefits and is partnered with Project HUGS (Helping Uninsured Get Surgery) and Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana.